The Royal Palace

Castle · Ruselokka

The Royal Palace

Castle · Ruselokka

1

Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway

Photos

The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by Photo courtesy of James Clear/Flickr Creative Commons
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null
The Royal Palace by null

Highlights

Oslo's Royal Palace is a serene 19th-century neoclassical gem with lush parklands, daily guard ceremonies, and stunning city views.  

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Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway Get directions

kongehuset.no

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Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway Get directions

+47 22 04 87 00
kongehuset.no

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Jul 31, 2025

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@afar

"Changing of the Guards at the Royal Palace His Majesty the King’s Guard have been in charge of the Royal Family’s safety since 1856. Since 1888, they’ve been on duty at all the King’s residences 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some of the duties include ceremonial routines like the changing of the guards and the parade. The main changing of the guards takes place every day at 1.30pm. During the summer, they often include concerts or drill exercises with this ceremony. The parade takes place in the summer. Led by a Norwegian military band, the guards start marching from Akershus Fortress (another highlight on Afar.com) at 1.30pm and end their parade in front of the Royal Palace, where they change guards. The Royal Palace is worth a visit in itself, but if you don’t have time for that, make sure you at least catch the changing of His Majesty the King’s Guard!"

72 Hours in Oslo
View Postcard for The Royal Palace

Mohammed Aljeziri

Google
The Royal Palace in Oslo is an impressive and majestic landmark that beautifully reflects the rich history and heritage of Norway. Surrounded by serene gardens and the peaceful Palace Park, the entire area exudes elegance and tranquility. The building itself is a masterpiece of architecture, with its stately columns and commanding presence. Watching the changing of the guards is a unique and memorable experience, especially for first-time visitors. Whether exploring the grounds or taking a guided tour inside, the Royal Palace offers a fascinating glimpse into the country’s royal traditions. A must-visit destination in Oslo!

Harish Kumar Ramachandran Nair

Google
The Oslo Royal Palace is a must-visit landmark right in the heart of the city. What impressed me most was the beautifully maintained gardens surrounding the palace — perfect for a peaceful stroll or just relaxing in nature with a stunning backdrop. I also got to witness the daily changing of the guards, which was both ceremonial and impressive — a great experience for both tourists and locals. The palace’s central location makes it easily accessible, and it’s surrounded by other key attractions, including Karl Johans gate and the National Theatre. A great place to soak in the historical and cultural vibe of Oslo!

Vid Velkavrh

Google
Road up to there is magnificent with the view on palace itself. There are guard around. Small garden on the side and behind a huge park with smaller lake.

T N

Google
We visited Oslo during our Norway vacation and got to celebrate Constitution Day! We saw so many amazing sites and what an awesome 3 days! Beautiful country and city, amazing food and people.

Ling Yang

Google
The tour was very good. It is only available in summer when the royal family is away. Book the tour early and make sure to arrive on time.

Holly O'Sullivan

Google
Lovely to walk around outside. The palace is very nice and the gardens surrounding it are peaceful and pretty.

SOFIA CHEN

Google
The Norwegian Royal Palace is built in a neoclassical style, simple and elegant. It was built in the mid-19th century (opened in 1849). It has a solemn and steady exterior and a low-key and elegant interior. It is located on a high slope, overlooking the center of Oslo and Karl Johans gate. Most of the Norwegian royal palaces are open for guided tours in summer, but they were not open when I arrived.

John Quist

Google
A quiet place in the heart of Oslo, with grassy areas, trees, and open spaces. It’s a pleasure to visit. Access is free! It also happens to be the residence of the Norwegian royal family.
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Mitch K.

Yelp
We could see the grounds from our Thon Hotel and it was a short, pleasant walk through the forest up to the palace itself. Guarded night and day by the King's Guard Regiment, these sharply dressed and fit soldiers are an active duty and this is a serious business protecting the royal family. Visitors cannot enter the palace but are welcome to walk through the extensive grounds. There is a changing of the guard each day at 1pm that you are welcome to observe. The annual independent parade lasts over two hours as bands and school children from throughout the country parade through the city and up the entrance road to the palace, where the children can wave back to the queen who is on the balcony reviewing the parade.
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Erica C.

Yelp
7-1-24, we walked up to this. Great big and clean palace. They had guards outside. We lucked out and they did they changing of the guard at 1:30pm. You can take photos with them and they talk to you. Just can't get to close. Also, down the Main Street are numerous places to shop and eat. Can't miss this place. It is very large.
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Eric B.

Yelp
AKA - The Royal Palace Karl Johan street (Oslo's main pedestrian thoroughfare) leads right down to the Palace and you can see it for blocks. There's of course other ways to get here as there's huge park/greenbelt that surrounds it. It's a pretty, regal, and public complex, including scheduled tours of the palace I understand. Gayle and I were struck on how "open" the palace ground were, including guards that would happily give you directions. I don't think we'd get this close at Buckingham Palace (UK). We also enjoyed admiring the many statues with the park and just all the relaxing greenery.
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Ed U.

Yelp
This was our first destination once we landed in Oslo. I suppose Jamie W. and I should've taken the tour, especially since we were here during the brief period (end of June to mid-August) when they actually offer guided tours. However, we didn't know that, and I have to confess we're just not "palace" people. We've never been to Buckingham Palace, and my visit to Versailles was a lifetime ago. I think the last palace tour we took was at Graceland (review: https://bit.ly/3UwGqvE). OK, he wasn't the king of an actual country, but you get the gist. Thankyouverymuch. We admit we're the type who are more likely to be bowled over by green shag carpeting on the ceiling versus a gilded bedroom. No matter as I can still share my impressions of the outside. It looked more contemporary than most royal palaces you would see, more like a yellow variation on the White House (photo: https://bit.ly/3Rc5IMF). I liked how we could see it come into view from a distance as we walked on Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main pedestrian thoroughfare. Dominating the foreground was a manly statue of King Charles John on his horse, rather ironic in that he didn't live to see the palace (photo: https://bit.ly/3xHIvLp). I just noticed people moving around the base hoping to get some shade depending on how the sun was hitting it. There were young royal palace guards who remained solemn in their posts until a local tourist chatted him or her up for a photo op. We did see one changing of the guard which was done in military fashion without fuss (video: https://bit.ly/3C3Qrcv). The gardens were all quite manicured and the surrounding park was a nice patch of greenery even though makeshift fencing limited our movement on the grounds. Still, the palace was auspicious enough to give us a favorable first impression of Norway. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/3PEL4Fe
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PatrickJ T.

Yelp
Viewed the outside of the Royal Palace when we were in Oslo, Norway. Although it is not a medieval castle, it is still a Beautiful piece of architecture. The area surrounding the palace is lovely as well. We missed the changing of the guards ceremony. We did see them though. Did not see the Royal family either, but we did see a photo of them in front of the Royal Palace. Our local friends said that the Royal family was home because the Norwegian flag was raised. I have no idea if they were correct or not. The Royal Palace should not be missed when traveling to Oslo, Norway. Pretty photo opportunities a plenty!
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Herbert E.

Yelp
'Ello chaps! The Norwegian Royal Palace has a strikingly similar architectural view as Buckingham Palace in London England. The Norwegian Palace, home to the Norwegian royal palace, is the marquee focal point looks up Karl Johans Gate leading up to it. You can view the palace from the front, along with members of the royal guard. The palace was built in the first half of the 19th century for King Charles III. The palace is the official residence of the current Norwegian monarch while the Crown Prince resides at Skaugum in Asker west of Oslo. NOTE: There is plenty to see, do, and eat in the area of the Palace. Along Karl Johans Gate there are restaurants and stores. There is also the Parliament along the way, passing the National Theatre. In the area of the Palace, there is the Palace Park with the Palace Square in the front.
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Chun P.

Yelp
"A Lannister always pays his debts"...or was it "Hear me roar"? I'm a huge fan of Game of Thrones...the TV show that is, I haven't read the books. I've been analyzing George Martin's fictitious countries versus the real ones. I've determined that Norway represents House Lannister. Iceland = Castle Black, North of the wall Scotland = House Stark. The North London = Kings Landing Morocco = House Martell, Dorne Essos = Europe and North Africa in general Norway = House Lannister, Westerlands Its a regal building with a few cool old school looking guards. Look above and you'll see the Norwegian royal flag...red with a gold lion...same colors and same sigil as the Lannisters. The only difference is the extra ax. See photo. Norway's gold is their vast oil reserves, making them a very wealthy country. I don't know if they have dwarf prince though. Sorry, I'm a nerd... #geek #nerd #dork #got #winteriscoming #getalife
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Andrea W.

Yelp
Very symmetrical building! Right near downtown, the Royal Palace is hard to miss. Changing of the guard happens every day at 1:30pm, and you can actually talk to the guards while they stand there! Probably make their day less boring, although tourists take pictures of them all the time. Their job is to prevent people from going into the palace I think. The palace itself isn't that interesting, but it is painted an interesting color; it's pale yellow and pale green, very soothing. Worth a visit to see changing of the guards!
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Sandra K.

Yelp
Came in late, since it was already dark, so I could experience the real beauty of this park and the Royal Palace, but I definitely saw a glimpse of it.
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Jocelyn K.

Yelp
The Royal Palace is located in the center of beautiful Slottsparken. As you walk up the large pathway to the castle, you can take those iconic hold up or pinch the castle pictures. We opted not to get a tour of the castle as you have to pay for it, but there was a decently long line around the back of the castle. We did witness the changing of the guards just as we arrived around 11am. We didn't even plan for it. Perfect timing on our part. The castle guards are less strict than those at Buckingham Palace. They move their head a lot to survey the crowd, and if a tourist gets too close to the castle, they'll beckon them to move away. Of course, there was a large crowd of people taking pictures and selfies with the guard. The castle grounds are absolutely beautiful. Everything is so well cultivated and neatly maintained. They even have a garden with the largest beans I've ever seen. There are also several large ponds with a variety of different water fowl including ducks, geese, seagulls, etc. Don't miss out on the large tree with draping branches and leaves where you can duck underneath like a humongous tent. The bark is covered with people's carvings. Rude :/. We didn't get to see the entire park as it was humongous, but there seems to be so many secret alcoves and areas to explore. If you're a tourist, definitely don't leave Oslo without visiting the Royal Palace.
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Sandra F.

Yelp
The Royal Palace in Oslo is the Norwegian king's main residence. The castle is surrounded by the Royal Palace , facing four streets. On the north side is Wergelandsveien, west is Park Road, which is the access road for daily traffic to and from the castle, and on the south side is Henrik Ibsen's gate, past Drammensveien. From East runner parade street Karl Johans gate directly to the main castle facade and is the formal access to the castle on festive occasions. Parts of the castle are open to the public during the summer months, I did not get to tour the inside of the castle, but the outside was enough for me to photograph. Right now, the top of the castle is under construction, so it does not take pretty pictures, but still do visit. I could not leave Norway until I visited the Royal Palace.
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Christina L.

Yelp
the royal palace in Oslo. I didn't get too close because the flag was up, meaning the prince or king was in there? My uncle said it wasn't a good idea to get too close because the guards. I'm not sue if he was joking, but I'll trust the Norwegian.

Qype User (ruie8…)

Yelp
The Palace in Oslo is a fantastic historical building set within a lush park with massive trees lining one side. This is a beautiful location right in the heart of down town Oslo. We visited the Palace in winter, with the fresh fallen snow and the Christmas fairy lights lining the streets the atmosphere was magical with romance in the air. It appears possible to walk up to the front door of the palace with no railings or large walls to obstruct your view of this magnificent yet humble building. I would recommend visiting the Palace as you walk around the city with many bars and restraints lining the streets you are never far away from stunning building